"Freeze-all" cycle - now what?

[Minniemouse88]

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing okay.

I wondered, could anyone shed light on what happens after a freeze all cycle?

I had my egg collection last week (and OH had sperm retrieval). Due to overstimulation (25 eggs collected), the Dr said we would need a freeze all cycle.

I'm still recovering with sore ovaries.

It's been tense few days, where numbers went from 22 mature eggs, 7 fertilised to 6 day 3's and then, to our delight, 5 blastocysts to be frozen confirmed yesterday.

I just have no idea what to expect next and no info provided by clinic. I phoned up and was told to ring clinic when I have a withdrawal bleed. I'm sure all will be revealed in time but just confused how it all works now. I assume more hormonal injections to build up womb lining at some point?

Thanks in advance for your wisdom x

[McQueeny]

heya. If you did a freeze all, they will most likely ask you to wait two bleeds (withdrawal bleed + the next one) before starting the protocol for a frozen transfer, to make sure you body has had time to recover from the OHSS.

You can then start the protocol for a frozen transfer - but that’s much simpler and easier than the protocol for egg retrieval, and depending on personal circumstances doesn’t necessarily require injections , many of the hormones used can be given as oral tablets or vaginal pessaries (Simple protocol is just estrogen and progesterone) x

[Minniemouse88 in reply to McQueeny]

Thank you, I thought that might be the case with waiting for a natural cycle! X

[Crie1983]

Hi, I had a egg collection on 26 November and they have frozen my 5 blastocysts. My situation is probably different to yours but I have chosen a three cycle package, and will have embryos frozen from all three cycles then PGT-A testing. However I was asked to allow a withdrawal bleed (which came 9 days after egg collection) plus another natural cycle (which arrived last week) before I can commence further treatment.

My precious frozen transfers have included taking Progynova and cyclogest in the build up to transfer and then lubion injections started the night of the transfer.

The clinic should have told you what to expect next so perhaps give them a call and they can go through it with you. Good luck with everything. Xx

[Minniemouse88 in reply to Crie1983]

Thanks for taking time to respond and congratulations on your blastocysts. I hope the rest of your treatment goes well! X

[butterfliez]

Hi so I had my egg collection on 28th October , they had to freeze all due to issues with my lining. I then had a follow up appointment with transvaginal scan 6 weeks after that. they told me they had to wait that long for the ovaries to settle down etc, I am assuming that will be the same for yourself, at the appointment it was arranged to start the FET process on my next period.

I am currently taking meds for my FET which started last week with my period, this being my 3rd period since collection. I had to start oestrogen tablets on day one of my cycle which builds the lining up ready for embryo transfer the should not be any injections for yourself , I am day 10 tomorrow so will have a scan then to check lining is building up well and should know more about transfer date tomorrow and when to start the progesterone which are pessaries inserted . it is a much shorter process.

great news for your 5 blastocysts and wish you a speedy recovery x

[Minniemouse88 in reply to butterfliez]

Thank you for your well wishes and sharing your experiences. I'm sure I'll be following a similar process eventually. Always good to have an idea as to what is coming and still a bit perplexed that the clinic hasn't mentioned this. Perhaps all will be revealed.

All the best over the coming days. I hope all runs smoothly for you! Xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Minniemouse. Oh dear not what you had hope for. I'm sure. However, your little embryos will be quite safe waiting you are recovered enough for FET. I would imagine that will happen on a natural cycle or with minimal medication. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of water and keep an eye on your urine out put. Well done and get better soon. Diane

[Minniemouse88 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thank you Diane, I'm fairing up very well and actually and think I may have been lucky and avoided the worst with OHSS. Still, glad of the break to allow recovery. Yes lots of water. Strangely, I'm also craving salty foods so assume this is a bit of dehydration too. Thank you for your kind response x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Minniemouse88]

Hi Minniemouse. Yes, your electrolytes get a bashing, hence the salt cravings. It will pass. Diane

[Ral89anony]

Hi Minniemouse, I was told that I would need to freeze all my embryos due to the fact I was high risk for OHSS and I ended up having a tough time. My egg collection was in September where we had 33 eggs of which 20 were good enough to make embryos and by the end we had 13 embryos. Even by November one of my ovaries was still the size of an orange and a little painful.

I when for my first transfer anyway and resulted in biochem and I have just finished by second cycle and we have a BFP and in for bloods on Monday.

Please do take your time to heal and recover and ask lots of questions we didn’t in the first cycle because we were so green to everything but I think if we would have known more we would have delayed and could because of our frozen embryos.

Sending baby dust to you 🖤🖤

[Minniemouse88]

Thank you and congratulations, I hope everything goes smoothly for you xxx